POS0048-HPR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS’ EXPERIENCES OF LIFESTYLE MANAGEMENT IN PATIENTS WITH EARLY RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS – A QUALITATIVE STUDY
Authors: K. Drake af Hagelsrum, E. Mogard, A. Bremander, E. Lindqvist, I. Larsson
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2022)

Background Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory systemic disease that mainly affects joints and with symptoms such as stiffness, pain, and increased fatigue. RA also appears to be an independent risk factor for accelerated atherosclerosis with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, why national and international guidelines recommend proper pharmacological treatment together with a healthy lifestyle (1). Supporting people with early RA to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle is therefore of great importance. However, few studies have explored healthcare professionals’ views of working with lifestyle management. A healthy lifestyle does not only have the potential to lower cardiovascular risk but may also improve a person’s quality of life. Objectives The aim of this study was to explore healthcare professionals´ experiences of lifestyle management in patients with early RA. Methods In this explorative qualitative study, individual interviews were conducted with 20 healthcare professionals who had a mean of 16 years of professional experience in the field of working with patients with RA. An interview guide with open-ended questions was used e.g.: “How do you work with lifestyle changes in patients with RA?” and “What theories do you use to support lifestyle changes?” Qualitative content analysis was used, where three categories emerged: “The importance of a well-functioning organization”, “The importance of teamwork” and “The importance of person-centered care” and nine subcategories, representing the overall content of the interviews (Table 1). Table 1. Overview of categories and subcategories that describes healthcare professionals´ experiences of lifestyle management in patients with early RA Categories Subcategories The importance of a well-functioning organization Supportive leadership Priority of lifestyle management Competence development in lifestyle management The importance of teamwork Interdisciplinary team Professional expertise in lifestyle habits Structured approach to lifestyle management The importance of person-centered care Individually tailored lifestyle management Shared decision-making Patient engagement Results Healthcare professionals’ experiences of lifestyle management in patients with early RA included the importance of a well-functioning organization with supportive leadership, priority of lifestyle management, and competence development in lifestyle management. The importance of teamwork was emphasized including interdisciplinary team, professional expertise in lifestyle habits, and structured approach to lifestyle management. The healthcare professionals also highlighted the importance of person-centered care with individually tailored lifestyle management, shared decision-making, and patient engagement. Conclusion Healthcare professionals’ experiences of lifestyle management in patients with early RA reveal that commitment from both the management, the team, and the patient is important. References [1]Agca R, Heslinga SC, Rollefstad S, et al. EULAR recommendations for cardiovascular disease risk management in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other forms of inflammatory joint disorders: 2015/2016 update. Ann Rheum Dis 2017;76:17-28. Disclosure of Interests None declared